September 2009
So far this month there have been five callouts, three being on the last weekend.
Three were where owners were conducting hazard reduction burns that were reported as being out of control.
The first was a grass fire on a property along Jacks Corner Rd.
Luckily the owner had managed to contain the fire to the edge of the road until the brigade arrived but due to the dry conditions approximately half a hectare was fire damaged. The other two, one near Kelly's Road and the other opposite the Barrengarry Store, the owners had under control but owing to the weather conditions, we attended as a precautionary measure.
The remaining two were "good intent" calls for a smoke sightings.
The one above the town was a burn off where the owner had contacted Shoalhaven fire control but unfortunately this information was not passed on to us until after we were called out.
This month we assisted property owners with a number of large pile burns and conducted several hazard reductions (HR) around the Valley.
This has been great training for some of our newer members to brush up on their skills
A recent weekend HR was carried out behind the Museum Park to reduce the fuel loading which created quite a deal of smoke.
A second burn may be carried out in this area, weather permitting, to strengthen this buffer zone.
The local area is extremely dry and already there have been several larger fires in the Shoalhaven, all from private landholder burn offs that have escaped or been left unattended. It is shaping up to be a long hot dry summer and land holders are urged to complete bushfire preparations and clean ups now before it is too late
Shoalhaven RFS have been conducting Firewise workshops to help educate people on how to prepare and defend their properties.
One was held at our station and the other at Wattamolla.
We will advise of planned future workshops.
The fire season commences on the first of September and permits are required before any burn-offs are conducted. Penalties may apply for any illegal burns after this time.
Contact David Smart, Keith Nelson or Bill Chittick to arrange these.
Please remember that these people are all volunteers and the more notice that you can give them to issue the permit the better.
Shoalhaven Fire control must also be notified on 4424 4424 Monday to Friday at least twenty-four hours before burning off.
We have available approximately twenty smoke detectors and several small fire extinguishers remaining from recent sales to be sold at bargain prices, Smoke detectors $10 each and Fire Extinguisher $20 each. Contact Dave Smart or call in to the Fire Station on a Wednesday at 6pm if interested.
Remember, it is never too late to become a member of the RFS, learn new skills and become a valuable member of the community. Call down to the station on a Wednesday night at 6 pm and meet some of the existing members and check out the trucks and equipment to see if it is for you.
We would particularly like to see some of our younger guys and girls around the Valley get involved but all ages are welcome
The photos, courtesy of Daniel Beale, show the brigade in action at a typical HR burn.
Until next time, be firewise.
Cinderfella
See details of "Firewise meeting page